Points of Interest in Mt. Adams and Eden Park
Mt. Adams
Originally called Mt. Ida, the name was changed in 1843 to honor President John Quincy Adams, who visited to dedicate the Cincinnati Observatory. At the time, it was the most powerful observatory in the United States. In the early 1800s, this hill was the site of the Nicholas Longworth Vineyard. The Catawba grape was developed here, and from it came America's first champagne, Golden Wedding. For a brief period of time, Mt. Adams was the center of winemaking in America.
In the mid-19th century, many German and Irish immigrants settled on Mt. Adams, building their homes to conform to the steep topography from wood and stone, which was quarried nearby. The Mt. Adams Incline, which operated from 1874 to 1948, carried residents from their homes to downtown Cincinnati.
Today, Mt. Adams retains much of its historic quaintness and charm. It is a neighborhood of narrow winding streets; well-maintained, old homes and gardens; spectacular views; and an eclectic assortment of shops and restaurants. Many artists and craftsmen make their homes here.
Eden Park
Located at Gilbert Avenue between Elsinore and Morris and comprised of 186.29 acres, Eden Park was assembled by a series of purchases beginning in 1859. The name came, naturally, from the Garden of Eden and was given by Nicholas Longworth who owned a large tract which constitutes the main portion of the park.
Eden Park is the home of the Cincinnati Art Museum, Cincinnati Art Academy, Playhouse in the Park, Murray Seasongood Pavilion, and the Irwin M. Krohn Conservatory.
Sites of Interest
1. Cincinnati Art Museum-The museum is open 7 days a week and offers free admission. The Art Museum was opened in 1879, but didn't move to Eden Park until 1887. It is Ohio's oldest art museum.
2. Baldwin Piano and Organ Company-The building was originally built in 1920, but the building was destroyed by fire. An exact replica was constructed in 1964.
3. Natural History Museum and Planetarium-This is the original site for the Natural History Museum which is now at Union Terminal. Today the building is used mostly for laser shows, collection storage, and research.
4. Hamlet's Castle-This castle was built by Samuel Hannaford after seeing Hamlet performed. It was intended to be the entrance to Eden Park but with the advent of cars, people were less willing to use the breathtaking fossilized limestone and sandstone Elsinore steps to walk in so the entrance was moved to the more accessible location of Gilbert and Eden Park Drive.
5. Ida Street Bridge-This Art Deco designed viaduct with recessed lighting was built in 1931. Listed on National Register.
6. Pilgrim Church-Church of Christ-This church was built in 1886. Its architecture is Gothic. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
7. Immaculata Conception Church-Catholic Church-Immaculata Church is located at the top of Mt. Adams, a neighborhood of Cincinnati, Ohio. The Church is located at 30 Guido Street. The Church serves the Roman Catholic Holy Cross–Immaculata Church parish and has a breathtaking view of the Ohio River below from one of the highest points in Cincinnati.
The church was built in 1859 just before the American Civil War for the German congregation in the city's Mt. Adams neighborhood. Archbishop John Baptist Purcell decided to build the church while praying during a severe storm at sea. He promised God that if he survived, he would build a church on the city's highest point.[1] The church has served since 1860 as a pilgrimage church, where on Good Friday the faithful ascend eighty-nine steps from the level of the river to the front door of the church. First wooden steps were put up, and then in 1911, the city of Cincinnati helped the church build concrete steps.
Each year in February members of the Ancient Order of Hibernians knock on the church door and ask permission to remove the statue of St. Patrick The Priest invokes the intercession of St. Patrick. With bagpipes leading the way the six foot statue of St. Patrick leaves the church and starts his Mini Parade through Mt. Adams.
The Holy Cross monastery was closed in 1977, and the parishioners joined with Immaculata to become the Holy Cross-Immaculata parish. The Mt. Adams Preservation Association raised enough funds to have Johann Schmitt's paintings in the Holy Cross - Immaculata Church restored to their original brilliance. He had created seven paintings over the main altar and side altars between the years 1863 and 1870.
8. Mt. Adams Fountain-The fountain marks the center of Mt. Adams
9. Monastery-This was the site of the original Cincinnati Observatory, now in Mt. Lookout. By 1873 the smoke and exhaust steam from the increasing number of factories in the Cincinnati basin had made the accurate use of the telescope almost impossible, the telescope and cornerstone were removed and installed on property in Mt. Lookout that had been donated by John Kilgour. This empty building was, in 1872, used by the Passionist Fathers as their first monastery. The Fathers leased the property for 99 years with an option to purchase. On June 22, 1873 6,000 people attended the dedication of the monastery and the adjacent frame church with Archbishop Purcell presiding. By the 1890s a larger church and monastery were needed. On August 25, 1895 the new church was dedicated, and in June of 1901 the Monastery you see below was completed.
By 1970 population movement to the suburbs plus economic problems forced the church to close, and by 1977 the monastery was closed and sold to Towne Properties which turned it into an office building.
10. Rookwood Pottery-Maria Longworth Nichols (1849-1932), granddaughter of Nicholas Longworth wanted to start a pottery shop so her father Joseph Longworth gave her a schoolhouse on Eastern Avenue for her Rookwood Pottery. The name came from the name of the Longworth estate, plus it sounded much like the important pottery firm called Wedgwood. The first pieces came out of the kiln on Thanksgiving Day in 1880. The following year a full time decorator was hired to join a staff that included Henry Farny who later became a famous painter of the American Indian. Chemists were hired to develop unique glazes. The Eastern Avenue location was noisy and dirty and it flooded in 1883 and 1884. In 1891 the cornerstone was laid for the Mt. Adams factory. By this time more than 50 artists were employed, some of which were sent abroad to study. world renown pottery company.
By the 1920s 200 men and women were working and were the company's most prosperous years. Then the depression hit and Rookwood was badly hurt. In 1934 the company lost $47,000 and on April 17, 1941, Rookwood went into receivership. Bought by one time Red’s partial owner Marge Schott's husband Walter Schott, the inventory was liquidated. The manufacture of pottery continued on a
very limited scale during the war and then, in 1949, the decorating staff was let go and the main buildings were rented out for offices. In the 1950s two new owners tried to start up the company again, but both failed.
In 1960 Rookwood moved to Starkville, Mississippi taking over 1,200 original molds. Foreign competition and inflation finally forced the company out of business in 1967.
11. 910 Paradrome-This location was visited regularly by Tristate Hiking Club's most notorious organizer, John Cunningham. This was the home of his grandmother's cousin.
12. Reservoir-The place where bootlegger George Remus murdered his wife Imogene after she cooperated with police. He pleaded insanity and was hospitalized for 5 months. Imogene continues to haunt Eden Park and has been seen sitting in the Gazebo overlooking Twin Lakes on many occasions. Children found the gun he used several years later in some bushes during an Easter Egg Hunt.
13. Eden Park Overlook-The Kiosk marks the midway point for the Ohio River. President Hoover dedicated it in 1929.
14. Melan Arch Bridge-The Melan Arch Bridge was built of concrete which in 1894 was a pioneer engineering feet that attracted world-wide attention. The bridge is flanked by stone eagles from the old Chamber of Commerce Building which burned in 1911.
15. Watertower-Built in 1894 to bring water to Walnut Hills. It is no longer in use, but is one of the most popular landmarks in the Park.
16. Krohn Conservatory- Krohn Conservatory, one of Cincinnati's major tourist attractions, was opened to the public in 1933 and essentially rebuilt after extensive storm damage in 1966. It is the third greenhouse in Eden Park. Krohn Conservatory, which is owned and operated by the Park Board, features plant materials from all over the world exhibited in simulated natural settings. Six special shows are presented annually in the Show House. The Conservatory, which is open every day of the year, was named in honor of Irwin M. Krohn, Board of Park Commissioner from 1912 to 1948. There is free wireless internet access at Krohn Conservatory sponsored by Lilypad in partnership with the Cincinnati Park Board.
17. Frederick Hinkle Floral Trail- Just south of Krohn Conservatory is the Hinkle Magnolia Garden, named for Frederick A. Hinkle as a testimonial to his many years on the Park Board.
18. Gazebo-The gazebo was originally built to cover a natural springs. It was built in 1905 and was used daily by the public until it was found to be contaminated in 1912 and sealed. It is the most common map symbol used worldwide to mark Eden Park on Cincinnati maps. Imogene Remus has been sitting in the gazebo on many occasions.